NIOSH Mining Training Exercise


Problem in the Shop

August 1989

See also: NIOSH mining products
Type: Invisible Ink Exercise
Audience: First line supervisors, mine maintenance personnel, mechanics and miners
Length: 12 questions
Skills Reviewed: Communication

You have recently been transferred to another mine and assigned to supervise the 8 mechanics in the maintenance shop. The mine superintendent is worried about tool pilferage and loss in your department. Soon after you are on the job, you hear rumors that Bill, the best and most senior mechanic in the group, has been stealing tools. A crisis develops when equipment must be repaired, but the critical tool needed to do the job is missing. Other mechanics say Bill knows where the tool is. You must decide what to do to maintain safety and production and to deal with the problem of the missing tool. A few weeks later, you observe Bill transporting a set of company tools off the mine property in his personal truck. You must decide what to do.

Materials needed:
Instructor Copy
Problem Booklet 1 for each trainee. May be downloaded separately or duplicated from the Instructor´s Copy.
Answer Sheet 1 for each group of 3 or 4 working the exercise. Purchased from MSHA (http://www.msha.gov/Education&Training.htm, MSHAdistributioncenter@dol.gov). You may also duplicate them locally if you or a local print shop have the ability to print invisible ink.
PENIB Developing Pens 1 for each answer sheet. Order from SICPA, Customer Service, 8000 Research Way, Springfield, VA 22153, Phone 1-888-SICPAUS or 1-888-742-7287, pen # "PENIB", a broad tipped developing pen.
Optional Overhead projector and overheads of the Master Answer Sheet and Scoring Key found in the Instructor's Copy.
Page last updated: September 17, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Division